Kids shouting, doorbell ringing, helping with homework around the kitchen table, oh – and making sure you’re ready to go for your 10 o’clock video call have all become parts of our current reality. In this quickly evolving world, many of us have needed to quickly adjust to working at home. Bryce Wylde is sharing his most useful tips on how to be your most productive self while working from home!

How to optimize your home-work environment

One key move to boost at-home productivity is to establish a consistent day-to-day routine and work on brain function. It’s important to establish a realistic routine that is easy to stick to. For example, wake up at the same time every morning, exercise right when you wake up, then take a shower. Having this consistent routine will boost your brain function.

• Establish specific break times, eating times, and quiet times so your productivity will be higher.
• Pack a lunch filled with fruits and veggies, salad and protein!
• Set alarms to employ a 50/10 rule which involves working for 50 minutes and taking a break for 10; all of which have been proven to increase productivity!
  
  Sitting at a desk all day at home isn’t much different than working from your desk at the office. It’s important to make sure your environment is comfortable
• Make sure your computer is at eye-line, your room temperature is cool and you have a comfortable chair with sufficient back support.
• Your home office needs to be brightly lit, ideally with windows casting natural light and full-spectrum bulbs.
• The display screens of computers, electronic notebooks, smartphones and other digital devices that emit significant amounts of blue light. The amount of “high energy visible” (HEV) light these devices emit is only a fraction of that emitted by the sun. I’d recommend purchasing a pair of blue-light protective glasses if your job involves staring at screens throughout the day.

Improving focus, attention, alertness and concentration

How much caffeine is too much? Many people consume caffeine to increase their energy and productivity.

• The rule of thumb is to drink a maximum of 3 cups of coffee – or any other caffeinated beverage in a day
• It’s recommended to not consume any form of caffeine after 12pm as this may affect your sleep schedule
• Don’t be shy to switch it up! There are high caffeine alternatives if you’re hoping to take a break from coffee such as green tea, and diluting liquorice extract in hot water
  

The 3 main productivity-boosting supplements are Theanine, Omega-3, Magnesium and Threonate.

• Theanine can be found in beverages such as green tea, coffee and black tea
• Omega-3 is a prominent ingredient in fish and other seafood as well as nuts and seeds
• Magnesium is found in foods such as fruits and veggies, as well as legumes

Working at home can be difficult; but by establishing an appropriate schedule and ensuring organization and productivity, maybe you’ll learn to love this new lifestyle.